China Paves the Way for More A-Shares ETFs

A day after the db X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund (ASHR) debuted, becoming the first U.S.-listed ETF to offer investors direct access to China’s A-shares, regulators in the world’s second-largest economy paved the way for more ETFs holding A-shares to launch.

Additionally, Chinese regulators granted the same approval to Bosera Asset Management Co. The approval for Bosera, which has $32 billion in assets under management, sets the stage for KraneShares to launch the KraneShares Bosera MSCI China A ETF.

In a statement issued Tuesday evening, KraneShares said the KraneShares Bosera MSCI China A ETF is close to launching and that when it comes to market, it will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “KBA.” [KraneShares Eyes Its Own A-Shares ETF]

The move to offer A-shares ETFs is gaining steam. ASHR is the first U.S. ETF to do so and KBA appears ready to follow, but Market Vectors is seeking approval to transition the Market Vectors China ETF (PEK) to equities away from a basket of derivatives linked to the CSI 300 Index. PowerShares, the fourth-largest U.S. ETF issuer, is seeking to do the same with the newly minted, actively managed PowerShares China A-Share Portfolio (CHNA) . [Market Vectors China ETF Seeks Direct A-Shares Exposure]

This is the first time China has allowed local fund managers to offer mutual funds outside Hong Kong, in a move that could pave the way for Chinese fund managers to offer similar products in the global markets, including the U.S., the Wall Street Journal reported, citing an unidentified source.